The faculty of the UCF College of Medicine prepares students of medicine to possess the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors appropriate and necessary to be successful and empathic in their medical careers. The faculty members have characterized the core competencies of the graduates in six domains corresponding to competency domains described by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education. The specific program learning objectives incorporate all of the objectives suggested by the Medical School Objectives Project of the AAMC as well as other outcomes and objectives identified by the faculty as particularly relevant for UCF College of Medicine graduates. At the time of graduation, it is expected that each graduate will have demonstrated competency in each of the following program learning outcomes and objectives:

Medical Knowledge

Demonstrate knowledge of the normal structure and function of the body (as an intact organism) and of each of its major organ systems, across the life span.

Demonstrate knowledge of the molecular, biochemical, and cellular mechanisms that are important in maintaining the body’s homeostasis.

Demonstrate knowledge of the various causes (genetic, developmental, metabolic, toxic, microbiologic, autoimmune, neoplastic, degenerative, and traumatic) of maladies and the ways in which they operate on the body (pathogenesis).

Demonstrate knowledge of the altered structure and function (pathology and pathophysiology) of the body and its major organ systems that are seen in various diseases and conditions.

Demonstrate understanding of the power of the scientific method in establishing the causation of disease and efficacy of traditional and non-traditional therapies.

Demonstrate understanding of the scientific basis and interpretation of common diagnostic modalities, including: imaging, electrocardiograms, blood and urine chemistries, pathologic studies, and functional assessment tests. Discuss the indications, contraindications and cost-effectiveness of common diagnostic studies.

Patient Care

Demonstrate the ability to elicit accurate comprehensive and focused medical histories that cover all essential aspects of the history, including issues related to age, gender, sexuality, and socio-economic status, using a medical interpreter when appropriate.

Demonstrate the ability to perform both a complete and an organ system specific examination, including a mental status examination.

Demonstrate the ability to perform routine technical procedures.

Demonstrate the ability to interpret the results of commonly used diagnostic procedures.

Demonstrate the ability to identify the most frequent clinical, laboratory, roentgenologic, and pathologic manifestations of common maladies.

Demonstrate the ability to reason deductively in solving clinical problems and to be able to evaluate the patient’s medical problems and formulate accurate hypotheses using deductive reasoning. Demonstrate the ability to use information from patient histories, physical exams, and auxiliary studies to test initial hypotheses/differential diagnoses.

Demonstrate the ability to formulate and implement appropriate management strategies (both diagnostic and therapeutic) for patients with common conditions, both acute and chronic, including medical, psychiatric, and surgical conditions, and those requiring short- and long-term rehabilitation. Ability to incorporate a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the care of patients that integrates biomedical and psychosocial considerations and that considers alternative medicine options. Use knowledge of managed care systems in making patient treatment plans and health care maintenance plans.

Demonstrate the ability to recognize patients with immediately life threatening cardiac, pulmonary, or neurological conditions regardless of etiology, and to institute appropriate initial therapy.

Demonstrate the ability to recognize and outline an initial course of management for patients with serious conditions requiring critical care.

Demonstrate knowledge about relieving pain and ameliorating the suffering of patients.

Demonstrate the ability to identify factors that place individuals at risk for disease or injury, to select appropriate tests for detecting patients at risk for specific diseases or in the early stage of disease, and to determine strategies for responding appropriately.

Demonstrate appropriate techniques for performing Basic Life Support.

Systems-Based Practice

Demonstrate knowledge of the important non-biological determinants of poor health and of the economic, psychological, social, religious, historical, and cultural factors that contribute to the development and/or continuation of maladies.

Demonstrate knowledge of the epidemiology of common maladies within a defined population, and the systematic approaches useful in reducing the incidence and prevalence of those maladies.

Demonstrate understanding of basic issues for promoting health and preventing disease and apply this understanding to patient management and teaching patients the importance of preventative medicine, health promotion, and wellness.

Demonstrate knowledge of the social determinants of health, health equity, and efforts to eliminate health care disparities in the US, especially as it relates to minority group individuals and members of traditionally under-served populations.

Demonstrate knowledge of various approaches to the organization, financing, and delivery of health care and knowledge of the global health care delivery system in the community including physicians, hospitals, outpatient centers, home health agencies, community agencies, and government agencies in that system.

Demonstrate an understanding of the threats to medical professionalism posed by the conflicts of interest inherent in various financial, governmental, and organizational arrangements for the practice of medicine.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

Demonstrate the ability to retrieve (from electronic databases and other resources), manage, and utilize biomedical information for solving problems and making decisions that are relevant to the care of individuals and populations.

Demonstrate an understanding of evidence-based medicine (EBM) with respect to formulating patient-based questions, efficiently searching literature databases, appraisal of quality of studies, applying the results of a literature search, and use information about their own population of patients to direct patient care.

Demonstrate an understanding of the principles and method of Practice-Based Learning and Improvement that involves investigation and evaluation of one’s own patient care, appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence, and improvements in the continuum of patient care.

Demonstrate an understanding of the need and commitment to engage in lifelong learning to stay abreast of relevant scientific advances, especially in the disciplines of genetics and molecular biology.

Ethics and Professionalism

Demonstrate knowledge of the theories and principles that govern ethical decision making, and of the major ethical dilemmas in medicine, particularly those that arise at the beginning and end of life and those that arise from the rapid expansion of knowledge of genetics.

Provide compassionate treatment of patients and respect for their privacy and dignity.

Demonstrate honesty and integrity in all interactions with patients’ families, colleagues, and others with whom physicians must interact in their professional lives.

Advocate at all times the interests of one’s patients over one’s own interests.

Demonstrate an understanding of, and respect for, the roles of other health care professionals, and of the need to collaborate with others in caring for individual patients and in promoting the health of defined populations.

Demonstrate the capacity to recognize and accept limitations in one’s knowledge and clinical skills, to use self-evaluation, constructive feedback as part of the peer community, moral reflection and ethical reasoning to form the basis for a self-directed, lifelong engagement in the responsible, committed, compassionate practice of medicine, and a commitment to continuously improve one’s knowledge and ability.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Demonstrate the ability to convey presence, build rapport, and employ active listening to communicate compassionately, effectively, and in culturally and emotionally appropriate ways, both verbally and in writing, with patients, their families, colleagues and others with whom physicians must exchange information in carrying out their responsibilities.

Demonstrate the ability to establish effective relationships with patients and their families that enables one to provide reassurance, give encouragement and support, and convey empathy and caring.

Demonstrate the traits of collegiality, flexibility, adaptability, reliability, punctuality, and responsibility, and work effectively with others as a member or leader of a health care team or other professional group.